Portable derrick hoist



June 15, 1948. P. J. FOSTER 49 PORTABLE DERRICK HOIST Filed Oct. 28, 1946 e Sheets-Sh'eet'l I I o I i /a as un as /a al 33 PEYTQN J. Pas-rs Z2 Im-entar nor/#1405 5m June 15, 1948.' P. J. Fam'ER 4 1 2,443,349

PORTABLE DERRICK HOI ST Filed Oct. 28, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 /0 I Inventor 'PEYTDN Jl us'revx June 15, 1948. P. J. FOSTER PORTABLE DERRICK HOIST Filed on). 28. 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor liml fi ml and June 15, 1948.

J. FOSTER PORTABLE DERRICK HOI ST e Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 28. 1946 one Inventor PEYTDN PJ's-re:

June 15, 1948. P. J; FOSTER PORTABLE DERRICK HOIS'I Filed Oct. 28. 1946 6 Shepts-Sheet 5 Pay-r up: J-FEJSTEI\ June 15 1948- FOSTER 2,443,349

PORTABLE DERRICK HOIS'I Filed Oct. 28. 1946- 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Inventor Paw-run: P135115- Patented June 15, 1948 [UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE 2,443,349 PORTABLE DERRICK HOIST Peyton J. Foster, Corinth, Miss.

Application October 28, 1946, Serial No. 706,164

11 Claims. 1

vice of this kind which, althoughadaptable to a variety of llSBS,'ls especially serviceable for elevating sheets of wall board to and supporting the same in position for being secured in place to an overhead ceiling structure.

More particularly, the present invention C011, templates a hoist of the above kind including a telescopic extensible and collapsible mast including a fixed outer section and an extensible and retractible inner section, a substantially vertical- 1y movable load-engaging element or carrier adapted, when lowered, to receive and substantially vertically support the load, hoisting means for said carrier, lifting and supporting arms hinged :to the top of said extensible mast section for limited vertical movement, guiding means for guiding the carrier and leading the load onto said arms when the latter are in lowered position and the carrier is hoisted, and means for raising the arms to tilt the carrier and the load to a generally horizontal position and for then raising the extensible mast section so as to elevate the load to and support the same in the desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoist of the above kind embodying a, collapsible propping means for sustaining the mast in a vertical position and permitting the device to be compactly conditioned for conveniently transporting the same.

Another; object of, the invention is to provide a hoist of the above kind in which the propping means includes a plurality of hinged props, one of which forms part of the means for guiding the carrier toward'the lifting and supporting arms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoist of the above kind in which the propping means for the mast includes extensible props for adjusting the fixed mast section vertically, so that the load may be elevated and lifted to any desired one of a number of different elevations.

A still further object of the invention is .to provide a hoist of the above kind which is convenient to use, highly efficient in operation, and otherwise well'adapted to meet with the requirements for successful commercial use.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with,

the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a portable hoist constructed in accordance with the present invention and particularly adapted for elevating sheets of wall board to and supporting the same in position for being secured in placeto an overhead ceiling structure;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof with the wall board carrier elevated and the lifting arms in partially raised position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the lifting arms in completely raised position and the extensible and retractible mast section in partly extended position; v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the'upper portion of thehoist as it appears in Figure 1; v

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in" side elevation and partly in central vertical section, showing-details of construction embodied in the upper portion of the hoist;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6--'6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the multipledrum Windlass forming part of the hoist, taken on line l-'| of Figure2;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4 to more clearly show the slide attached to the carrier and its association with the adjacent prop;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the construction as shown in Figure 1, with parts omitted for sake of clearness; v

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line lll--l 0 of Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line I l--I I of Figure 2; v

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the lower portion of one of the props, taken on line l2--I2 of Figure 10.

' Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for elevating sheets of- Wall board to and supporting the same in position for being secured in place to an overhead ceiling structure.

This embodiment includes a telescopic extensible and collapsiblemast including'a fixed outer section.5 and an extensible and-retractible inner section 6 (see Figures 3 and 5). The extensible and retractible inner mast section 6 is adapted to retract or lower by gravity, and manually operable means is provided for extending or raising the same. As shown, the mast sections are of tubular form, and the fixed section 5 is provided at opposite sides and substantially from end to end thereof with longitudinal slots I. A collar 8 is slidable on the fixed mast section 5 and is provided with a diametric cross pin 9 which extends through the slots 1 and which, upon'elevation of the collar 8, will engage the lower end of the ex 3 tensible and retractible mast section 6 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Thus, upon further upward movement of collar 8, the pin 9 will cause the mast section 6 to be elevated or extended. Cable and drum means is provided for elevating the collar 8, which means includes a cable Ill which is attached at one end to the pin 9 and extends upwardly from the latter to and over a pulley ll suitably mounted on the outside of and near the upper end of the fixed mast section 5, and which is then extended downwardlyto one drum I2 of a multiple drum Windlass W which is mounted in a stationary position at a point considerably below the pulley H in a manner to be later described. It will be apparent that when cable Ill is wound on drum [2, collar 8 will be elevated until pin 9 engages the lower end of mast section 6, and that when the cable I is further wound on drum l2, th pin 9 will cause the mast section 6 to be raised. Ratchet and pawl means is provided for normally preventing unwinding of cable ill from. drum l2, which means includes a ratchet wheel l3 fixed to one side of drum l2, and a pawl l4 pivoted to the bracket 15 in which drum [2 is journaled. Thus, pawl M will hold the extensible mast section fi elevated until such time as pawl I4 is manually disengaged from ratchet Wheel I 3, whereupon said mast section 6 may lower by gravity due to free unwinding of cable. l0 from drum l2 which is then permitted to have retrograde rotation It is noted that mast section 6 is provided with a longitudinal. slot [6 (Figures 5 and 6), outwardlythrough. which cable [0 freely extends from pin. 9 to pulley i l-, therebypermitting free vertical movement of the mast section 6 when raised or allowed to lower.

Propping 'means is provided to. sustain the mast in a vertical position, which. means includes a plurality of equally spaced. props I1 attached at their upper ends to the upper end portion of the fixed mast section 5 and extending in downwardly diverging relation to points below the lower end. mast section 5. This propping means is preferably collapsible, in which case the upper ends of the props I1 are pivoted. at their upper ends, as at. plabetween. ears of a collar bracket I-9 fixed upon the upper portion of the mast section 5, so that the props may swing inwardly adjacent the mast or outwardly therefrom, respectively to collapsed or extended operative positions. The fixed mast section 5 is provided at its lower end wi-th a stop member or head [9 which limits downward movement of a collar 20 that is slidable on said mast section 5 and is connected with the props IT by means of radial links 2L The arrangement is such that when collar 20 is slid upwardly, the links 2lcause the props: ll to swing inwardly to: positions adjacent the mast. In this way, the structure may be col-- lapsed to compact ilorm for convenient transportation when not in use.

the props H include upper sections hinged at l-8 Conversely, "by sliding. the collar 20- downwardly to a point where it and downwardly extensible lower sections 23 each section being provided with a clamping bolt 23 equipped with a wing nut 25 and passing through a longitudinal slot 26 in the other section. Thus, the sections of each prop are eiTectively held together at the lower end of the upper section and at the upper end of the lower section when the latter is secured in any of its adjusted positions, one bolt 24 being carried by the lower end of the upper prop section and slidable in the slot 26 of the lower section 23, and the other bolt 23 bein carried by the upper end of the lower prop section 23 and slidable in the slot 26 of the upper prop section.

Radiating from and hinged at El between ears of a collar 28 secured on the upper end of the extensible mast section 6, are a plurality of vertically swinging equally spaced lifting and supporting arms 29, which are located in vertical planes intermediate the props The arms 29 are connected with the slidin collar 8- by means of links or struts all. so that upward movement of collar 8 causes upward swinging movement of arms 25] and downward movement of collar 3 causes downward swinging movement or" arms 29. However, upon moving the collar 8 upwardly, the upward swinging movement of arms- 29 is arrested upon engagement of pin Qwith the lower end" of the extensible mast section 5 so that. upward. movement or the latter caused upon continued upward movement of said collar 8 without further upward. swinging movement being imparted to the arms 29. Conversely, upon lowering collar ii, the extensible mast section t is allowed to lower: by gravity until the collar 28 of said section engages the upper endof. the fixed mast section The extensible mast section G is than fully lowered so that upon continued downward movement. of collar 8 the links 39 pull upon the arms 29 and. swing them downwardly to collapsed. position adjacent the upper end portion of mast section 5 as shown in Figure 4. The upward-swinging movement of arms 28' and the subsequent elevationof mast section. 6' is effected by simply winding. the cable 26-011 the drum l2, while lowering of roast section '6 and subsequent downward swinging of arms 29 is merely effected by gravity upon disengaging pawl it from ratchet wheel lit so as to permit the cable ill to freely un win-d i'rom"- said 42. It will be noted thattwo of the arms 29 extend forwardly from the must in diverging relationand are equipped at their outerends with freely rotatable wheels or idlers 3i, the: purpose of which will later become apparent.

Rigidly fixed upon the upper oi the exten-- sib'le mast section is a cross arm 33 which, as shown cl'e "ly in. Figure 9, is located in a verticalplane intermediate the forwardly extending arms 28 which equipped with rollers 3i and the remaining rearwardly extending arms 29. Disposed beneath andswiveled to the cross arm 32 adjacent the ends thereof, are the mounts of guide pulleys- 33' over which are trained cables 3 having corresponding ends thereof attached to opposite ends or" a horizontally elongated wall board or load carrier 35. The cables 34 are extended: from the pulleys 33-- through a suitable guide or eye 36" attached to the rear prop above the Windlass W, and the remaining ends of these cables 3 are attached to the second drum 3'! of said Windlass W. It will thus be seen that by win-ding cables 34 upon drum 37, the carrier 35 will tie-elevated whilebeing maintained in a horizontal positiorr. Also, by permitting the cables 34 to unwind from the drum 31, the carrier 35 may be lowered and maintained in the horizontal position. Attached to the back of the carrier 35 intermediate the ends thereof is a slide 36 of channel form adapted to slide upon and retainingly engage the lower portion of the forwardly: extended one of the props 17. However, this particular prop has its upper portion narrowed as at 31 in Figure 4 to permit disengagement of said slide 36 from this prop when the carrier 35 has been elevated to point adjacent the forwardly extending ones of the arms 29. The purpose of this is to permit the carrier 35 to swing upwardly with the arms 29 after said carrierhas moved the load or wall board B onto the arms 29 as shownin Fig.- ure 2, In this way, carrier 35 will retain the board B on the forward arms 29 until the latter approach a completely raised horizontal position. Slack may then be provided in the cables 34 so as to permit the carrier 35 to disengage from the wall board and swing downwardly and inwardly against the forwardly extending prop. When the latter happens, the forwardly extending ones of the links or struts 39 effectively guide the carrier 35iso that the slide 36 thereof properly engages the forwardly extending prop again. The carrier may then be further lowered so that the slide 36 will lower upon and retainingly engage the wider lower portion of the forwardly extending prop ll.- It will be noted that the rollers 3| of the forwardly extending arms 29 facilitate ease of movement of the wall board upwardly onto the forwardly extending arms 29 when the carrier 35 is elevated. This is also facilitated by means of further rollers 38 journaled on the ends of the cross arm 32 and upon which the wall board is adapted'to ride when elevated onto the forward arms 29 and cross the cross arm 32. While the arms 29 are swung upwardly to a horizontal position in constructing ordinary horizontal ceilings, it will be apparent that they may be limited to an inclined position when constructing slantin attic ceilings. In the latter case, the carrier 35 will be allowed to remain in engagement with the lower edge of the wall board as shown in Figure 2 to sustain the same in position until fastened in place. The carrier 35, as shown adapted for use in connection with wall boards, simply consists of an elongated plate provided at its lower edge with a channel portion 39 adapted to receive the lower edge portion of the wall board. When the carrier 35 is lowered as in Figure 1, the wall board is simply disposed to rest in the channel portion 59 of the carrier and so as to lean backwardly against the forwardly extending prop ll. At this time, the forwardly extending ones of the arms 29 are collapsed to a position inwardly of this forwardly extending prop, so that the wall board will be elevated onto said arms as the carrier 35 is raised. At this time, it is noted that the bracket l5 of wlndlass W is suitably rigidly mounted upon the rearwardly extending one of the props I! at such an elevation that the Windlass may be conveniently operated by a person standing upon the floor. Similarly, when the carrier 35 is completely lowered, it is at such an elevation that the wall board B may be conveniently placed thereon by the person standing upon the floor. On the other hand, the derrick is utilized to elevate the wall board to a considerable height which can only be reached by a workman standing upon a ladder in position to secure the wall board in place.

retrograde movement of drum 3! and unwinding,

ofca-bles 34 therefrom, which means includes a second ratchetcwheel 40 secured to one side of the drum 3'1 and engaged by a pivoted pawl 4| similar to the pawl l4 and pivoted to the frame l5 of the Windlass. By simply disengaging the pawl 4| from the ratchet wheel 49, the. cables 34 may beallowed to unwind from drum 3! so as to allow the carrier/35, to lower by gravity. The drums l2 and 31 of the Windlass are journaled upon a shaft 42 which is in turn journaledin the. bracket. 15 and provided with an operating crankor handle 44 at one end. At their adjacent sides, the drums I2 and3l are provided with recesses 45 and laterally projecting pairs of pins 46 within said recesses. Also, the intermediate portion of the shaft 43 is provided with a transverse pin 41 having projecting ends that extend outwardly beyondthe pins 45. Shaft 43 is mov-' able longitudinally through the bracket I5 and drums l2, and 31 so that the pin 41 may be located in the recess 45 of either drum l2 or 31'. The arrangement is such that when the pin 41 is arranged within the path of the lateral pins 41 ofdrum 12, a driving connection is provided between said drum l2 and shaft 43, but drum 31 is free to turn relative to shaft 43. On the other hand,. when the shaft 43 is shifted to position cross pin 41 in recess 45 of drum 31, pin 4! may engage the lateral pins 46 of drum 3'! to provide a driving connection between the latter and the shaft 43. At this time, the drum I2 is free to turn on shaft 43 relative to drum 3'! By reason of this arrangement, shaft 43 may be utilized to selectively drive either desired one of the drums I2 or 31.

With the shaft 43 located as in Figure 7, operation of crank 44 will cause rotation of drum l2 so as to wind cable Ill thereon. However, after placing the wall board B on the carrier 35, the shaft 43 is moved to shift cross pin 4'! into recess 45 of drum 31. Crank 44 is then operated to turn drum 3'! and wind cables 34 thereon, thereby causing elevation of the carrier 35 and the board B placed thereon. When the carrier 35 has been elevated to a position adjacent the lower ends of the forwardly extending arms 29, the board B will have been moved onto said forwardly extending arms 29 to the relative position of Figure 2. Lowering of the carrier and the wall board is prevented by the engagement of. pawl I4 with ratchet wheel !3. The shaft 43 is then shifted to move cross pin 41 into the recess 45 of drum [2. Shaft 43 is then rotated so as to wind cable I0 upon drum l2 and thereby raise the sliding collar 8. This causes the lifting and supporting arms 29 to be raised, thereby tilting the board B toward or to a horizontal position as respectively shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the board B has been properly tilted, the pin 9 willhave engaged the lower end of the extensible mast section 6 so that upon further Winding of cable l0 upon drum I2, said extensible mast sec-- tion 6 will be elevated so as to bring the board B in proximity to the overhead ceiling structure for being secured to the latter. At the proper time, slack may be allowed in cables 34 by disconnecting shaft 43 from drum 31, thereby .permitting disengagement of the carrier 35 from the wall board. When the carrier is thus disengaged from the wall board, it can swing downwardly and inwardly against the forwardly extending links or struts 30. Further lowering of carrier 35 will cause it to engage the forwardl extending prop I1 so that the slide 36 moves downwardly thereon and ultimately has sliding but retaining ported until fastened to the overhead ceiling structure. Only two workmen are required, one to actuate the derrick and the other to fasten thewall boards in place to the ceiling structure. Y

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to use of the same in connection with elevating and supportin wall boards, it is to be understood that the same may be adapted to a variety of other analogous uses by slight modification, particularly with respect to the kind of carrier employed.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and-advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciatedby those skilled in the art; It is particularly noted that the invention is capable of ready modification and changes in details of constructionshown and described, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a portable derrick hoist, the combination of a telescopic extensible and collapsible mast including a fixed outer section and an extensible and retractible inner section, a substantially vertically movable wall board carrier adapted when lowered to receive and support a wall board in a slightly inclined position, hoisting means for said carrier, lifting and supporting arms hinged to the top of said extensible mast section for limited vertical movement between a slightly inclined lowered position and a raised position, guiding means for leading the wall board onto said arms when the latter are in lowered position and the carrier is hoisted, and means for raising the arms to tilt the wall board toward a horizontal posi tion and for then raising the extensible mast section so as to elevate-the wall board to and support the same in position for being secured in place to an overhead ceiling structure.

2. In a portable derrick hoist, a telescopic ex,- tenslble and collapsible mast including a fixed outer section and an extensible and retractible inner section, a substantially vertically movable load carrier adapted when-lowered to receive and support a load, hoisting means for said carrier, load lifting and supporting arms hinged to the top of said extensible mast section for limited vertical movement, guiding means for leading a load onto said arms when the latter are in lowered position and the carrier is hoisted, and means for raising the arms to tilt the load and for then raising the extensible mast section so to elevate the load to and support the same in the desired elevated position.

3. The construction defined in claim 2, in com bination with propping means for supporting the mast in a vertical position, said propping means including a plurality of equally spaced downwardly diverging props attached at their upper ends to the upper end of the fixed mast section, said guiding means including a slide attached to the carrier and slidable on one of said props.

4. The construction defined in claim '2, in com bination with collapsible propping means for supporting the mast in a vertical position, said propping means including a plurality of equally spaced downwardly diverging props pivoted at their upper ends to the upper end of the fixed mast section for swinging movement toward and irom'the latter, means including a collar slidable on the fixed mast section and connected to the props for simultaneously swinging them toward or away from the mast.

5. The construction defined in claim 2, in combination-with propping means for supporting the mast in a vertical position, said propping means including a plurality of equally spaced downwardly diverging props attached at their upper ends to the upper end of the fixed mast section, said guiding means including a slide attached to the carrier and slidable on one of said props, said one prop having an upper portion of reduced width to permit detachment of the slide therefrom and upward movement of the carrier and load with the lifting and supporting arms.

6. The construction defined in claim 2, in combination with propping means for supporting the mast in a Vertical position, said propping means including a plurality of equally spaced downwardly diverging extensible props attached at their upper ends to the upper end of the fixed mast section and adjustable to vertically adjust the mast.

'7. In a portable derrick hoist, a telescopic extensible and collapsible mast including a fixed outer section and an extensible and retractible inner section, a substantially vertically movable load carrier adapted when lowered to receive and support a load, cable and drum hoisting means for said carrier, lifting and supporting arms hinged to the top of said extensible mast section for limited vertical movement, said fixed outer mast section having longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof, a collar slidable on said fixed mast section, a diametric pin carried by said collar and extending through said slots, links connecting said lifting and supporting arms with said collar, said collar being movable downwardly away from the lower end of the extensible mast section and upwardly to cause engagement .of the diametric pin with the lower end of said extensible mast section, and cable and drum means for elevating said collar to initially cause upward movement of said arms and then effect elevation of the extensible mast section.

8. The construction defined in claim 7, in combination with guiding means for leading the load onto said arms when the latter are in lowered position and the carrier is hoisted, and a cross arm rigidly mounted on the upper end of the extensible mast section in position to have the load elevated thereon when the carrier is raised and the arms are swung upwardly.

9. The construction defined in claim 7, in combination with guiding means for leading the load onto said arms when the latter are in lowered position and the carrier is hoisted, and a cross arm rigidly mounted on the upper end of the extensible mast section in position to have the load elevated thereon when the carrier is raised and the arms are swung upwardly, and rollers carried by certain of said arms and said cross arm to facilitate movement of the load onto the same when the carrier is elevated and the arms are swungupwardly.

10. In a portable derrick hoist, the combination of an extensible and collapsible mast 'including a fixed section and an extensible section, a substantially vertically movable load'car- 9 rier adapted when lowered to receive a load, propping means for supporting the mast in a vertical position including a plurality of equally spaced downwardly diverging props attached at their upper ends to the upper end of the fixed mast section, lifting and supporting arms hinged to the top of said extensible mast section for limited vertical movement and hoisting means selectively operable for first elevating the carrier onto the lifting arms and for then swinging the lifting and supporting arms upwardly and subsequently raising the extensible mast section, said hoisting means comprising a multiple drum Windlass mounted on one of said props.

11. In a portable derrick hoist, an extensible and collapsible mast including a fixed section and an extensible section, manually operable load elevating means for moving a load upwardly relative to the mast when the latter is collapsed, load tilting means carried by the extensible mast sec- 20 2 337,79

REFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,811 Newton Dec. 8, 1885 1,685,144 Austin Sept. 24, 1928 Baker et al Dec. 28, 1943 

